Milton intended Paradise Lost to be an epic poem; this meant the poem had to meet specific requirements. One of these requirements was that there had to be a hero in the poem, following the epic style of Homer and Virgil. ... From Satan's speech we can see some admirable qualities such as ambition, and pride; however, as these qualities are closely examined in the context of book IX it is not difficult to prove that Satan is more closely related to an anti-hero or even a hero gone to malicious extremes rather than the Greco-Roman definition of a hero as used in previous epics. ... In ...

• Word Count: 955
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

His success in breathing life into the character of Satan may be his greatest success in the epic. ... Throughout the epic, Milton is faced with the challenge of not only describing, but manipulating concepts and characters such as God, Paradise, and Satan. ... The finest example of this involves the depiction of Paradise throughout Paradise Lost. ...

• Word Count: 1209
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

His success in breathing life into the character of Satan may be his greatest success in the epic. ... Throughout the epic, Milton is faced with the challenge of not only describing, but manipulating concepts and characters such as God, Paradise, and Satan. ... The finest example of this involves the depiction of Paradise throughout Paradise Lost. ...

• Word Count: 1210
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Upon reflection on his life Victor says, "learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow" (31). ... The creature knew of the negative effects of his knowledge, stating for example, "Of what a strange nature is knowledge! ... After reading, Paradise Lost, an epic poem about Adam, hell, and original sin, the creature states, "Like Adam I was apparently united by no link to any other being i...

• Word Count: 1174
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

It is truly an example of dramatic irony that Adam's revered status as a human with direct access to God is only threatened by his desire for another human relationship. ... Although the epic poem "Paradise Lost" contains a great deal of tragedy, the true tragedy of Adam's fall is often overlooked. ...

• Word Count: 933
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School